Joseph Balata

Joseph R. Balata, age 78 of Kilkenny, MN, died on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at his home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 11:00 am at the Church of St. Patrick in Shieldsville, MN. Interment will be held at the church cemetery with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Organization.

Memorial visitation will be held at the Church of St. Patrick on Friday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 am.

Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.

Joseph Robert, the son of Joseph J. and Helen (Jakes) Balata, was born on April 11, 1938 in Montgomery, MN. He first attended grade school in Trebon and then graduated from Faribault High School with the class of 1957. After high school Joe attended the Vo-Tech for tool and die and then served in the U.S. Army. On November 11, 1961 he was united in marriage to Janice Aube at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Faribault, MN. Joe worked for different businesses in the area as a machinist including, McQuay's, Northfield Foundry and JBJ Manufacturing. Joe also farmed the family farm and operated his own trucking business for area farmers, Joe Balata Trucking. Joe was very handy and was able to manufacture his own parts to fix things at home. At an early age Joe began an appreciation for music, especially old time music, and played many instruments including the coronet in the Milo Edel Band, the button accordion and the guitar to name a few. He enjoyed fishing, hunting ducks, pheasants and deer, dancing at Jewett's Point with Jan, riding his Harley Davidson with family and friends and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion Post 43 in Faribault.

He is survived by his wife, Janice Balata of Faribault; by three children, Tony (Laurie) Balata of Faribault, Tom Balata of Kilkenny and Jennifer (Justin) Ellis of Colorado Springs, CO; by his son-in-law, Steve Ford of Colorado Springs, CO; by eight grandchildren, Andy and Tonja Balata, Jake, Tess and Katie Ford and William, Nathaniel and Luke Ellis; by two great grandchildren, Blaine Silversmith and Zachary Balata; by his sister, Mary Ann (Larry) Viskocil of Faribault and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his daughter, Kim Balata Ford on Feb. 24, 2012.